Page 133 of A Fate of Blood and Magic
“You’ll still have Tori,” I said, knowing it wasn’t enough. Not that he didn’t love Victoria, simply that that love extended to all three girls.
He pursed his lips and shook his head. “What would Jazz and Juanita think if they saw me playing with Tori and not them? I think the best for them . . . for all of them is if I stay away entirely.”
I gripped his shoulders that he threw back but didn’t quite square, while he steadied his breathing.
“He’ll come around,” I said, not meaning the words.
The way he eyed me let me know how little he believed me too.
“If the girls ask why I’m not around, tell them . . . I don’tknow what you can tell them, but don’t let them believe it’s because I don’t love them.” His pleading words slammed against my tremoring heart.
“They’ll always know how much you love them. I’ll make certain of it.” I paused. “I’ll tell them that you’re busy, that your title of commander keeps you busy protecting not just them, but our entire kingdom.”
“Maybe you could . . .” His throat bobbed again, and he coughed to clear it. “Could you station me elsewhere? Somewhere far from them so they don’t have to wonder why I’m not around?”
My saliva thickened at his request. Through the century we’d been friends, we’d never separated for extended periods of time, but I could grant him this if it eased some of his sorrow.
“If that is what you wish,” I said.
He gripped my arm, and I did the same to his.
“You have the weight of a confused and anguished kingdom on your shoulders.” His firm hold on my arm tightened. “Know it is a weight you do not carry alone. I’m not only your commander but also your best friend, yourcompeer. Your family. I don’t have to agree with your decisions to stand at your side.”
Unsure if I deserved such loyalty, all I could do was nod. “As I will always stand at your side.”
With this one step forward, I didn’t dread the many other obstacles that stood before Teddy and me quite as much. We would rally together and figure out the next best step. And we’d do it with the family we’d chosen to be at our sides.
Chapter
Twenty-Eight
TEDDY
The heart should only be allowedto break once. After that, it should be absolved of ever feeling again.
Yesterday, Donnie, Ryenne, and I said our final goodbye to Grandma Richter. The girls were also there, each of them mourning in their own way. While Elias had wanted to attend, he’d refrained so that his presence wouldn’t upset Donnie. Together, my closest friends and I had lit a candle and buried her near my cottage. We shared stories. We laughed, and we cried at her burial site until Donnie could no longer hold himself upright. I hated that we’d lost someone who had held us together.
Later in the night, when Niev came together again to send off their lost family and friends, Alastor had told me Javier was going by the cottage to pay his respects to Grandma Richter.
The fae’s grief and anger had been suffocating, but it seemed that most didn’t have the energy to be angry with Elias. Yet he’d held their anger close to his chest, even more determined to find who had betrayed them all.
We were out of tears. Yet we weren’t.
Javier left several days ago. Although Alastor assured me he was okay, I hated that he’d left. More, I hated that he had every right to leave. Hell, he had every right to hate us.
He’d come by once to see the girls with Kieren, Aidas, and Delaney with him. The kids were friendly, with Kieren still calling meMama Teddy, but it was clear I’d broken their trust as well.
While every part of me wanted to mend what I’d broken, I knew the first step had to come from Javier. I couldn’t force anything more on him.
Elias kept himself busy, working alongside George to find the traitor while also helping to rebuild our kingdom. He worked just as hard as every other fae in cleaning up the destruction and rebuilding the countless homes and businesses that had been destroyed. He worked at finding homes throughout the other cities for displaced families to live in temporarily. All the while helping any human who needed assistance, even without truly trusting them not to act out against us again.
And he did it all without magic.
Until we came to a decision about what to do with those who’d attacked our kingdom, we held them captives with guards always stationed at the prison. Along with whatever magic bound to them to prevent them from speaking the truth, Finley had uncovered a secret sort of magic inside them that left them confused and at times incoherent. It left whoever was behind this clear from any persecution while tension grew throughout the kingdom. It didn’t help that despite George’s best efforts, we still didn’t know anything about the magical fire. The prisoners’ presence unnerved everyone in Niev,with their magic becoming more erratic every day, escalating those emotions.
But Elias wouldn’t come to a decision regarding the prisoners’ fate until Donnie was well enough to voice his opinion. It wasn’t simply that Elias wanted his input but that he wanted Donnie and Alastor to be our top advisers. Should they agree, they would choose who they wanted on the council, and it would be the council who would decide the prisoners’ fate.
Thankfully, Donnie was improving every day, and getting around became easier for him. Now, all we needed was for Elias or Donnie to take that first step toward the serious conversation that awaited them.
